Dongbin was busy wiping the front window when Mei walked up.
"Bin, eaten yet?"
He stopped and frowned. "Eaten?"
Mei slapped her forehead. "Seriously, what rock did you crawl out from under?"
How the hell am I supposed to know? I’m an ancient god, Dongbin thought.
"Just stay put. I’ll go grab us something to eat," Mei said, shaking her head.
Dongbin snapped to attention and threw a sharp salute, completely forgetting the filthy, dripping rag stuck in his hand.
Splat!
Right across his own face.
"Yes, Boss!" he shouted, totally unbothered.
Mei burst out laughing and headed out to grab some hot corn porridge and biscuits.
Package in hand, she hurried back toward the shop. But just a few paces from the door, a massive shadow blocked her way.
Standing right in front of her was a guy covered head to toe in bandages, leaving only one wild eye staring her down. Tigor.
"Morning, sweetheart. Hand over the cash," Tigor growled, teeth clenched. "Or I’ll smash you to pieces right here!"
Mei panicked and looked around, only to find the street completely choked with Flying Axe Gang thugs. No way out.
"Dongbin, help!" she shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Her voice cut clean through the shop walls. Inside, Dongbin just grinned. He didn’t even bother moving, just snapped his fingers to call his divine sword, which was currently taking the form of a motorcycle.
Vroom!
A raw, deafening roar shook the street like a pissed-off dragon. The riderless bike shot out into the open road.
The gang went into pure panic. Before anyone could scatter, the bike plowed straight through them, sending thugs flying left and right.
Tigor stood there, completely frozen. He rubbed his one good eye, wondering if he was losing his mind. A few feet away, hiding behind his iron mask, Dajun’s eyes went wide. What the hell is that thing?!
Not about to take another embarrassing loss, Tigor yanked out a handgun and dumped the whole clip right into the gas tank.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Nothing. Not even a dent. Instead of blowing up, the bullets flattened into cheap-looking metal discs and dropped onto the pavement.
Tigor’s legs went weak. The bike hovered right in front of him, revving like a starved tiger ready to pounce.
It lunged forward.
Swoosh!
In the blink of an eye, a dark blur shot across the street. Dajun grabbed Tigor by the collar and yanked him back, barely saving him before the bike turned him into roadkill.
Mei sat slumped on the pavement with her knees folded under her, staring in disbelief as the last of the Flying Axe Gang vanished into the distance.
The riderless bike clicked its kickstand into place all by itself, engine humming quietly as if nothing had happened.
She glanced down at her lap. Miraculously, the hot corn porridge and biscuits were completely untouched, not a single drop spilled. Slowly, her eyes drifted back up, locking onto the mysterious motorcycle.
Footsteps pounded against the asphalt as Dongbin burst out from the barbershop, panting as he skidded to a stop beside her.
"Boss! You good? Did they hurt you?"
Mei couldn’t even find her voice. Still trembling slightly, she just raised a single, shaky finger, pointing straight at the bike.
Dongbin followed her finger, offered a dumb grin, and scratched the back of his head.
Dongbin didn’t say another word. He scooped Mei up in a bridal carry, lifting her right off the cold pavement.
Mei froze instantly, burying her face against his chest to hide her burning cheeks. She didn’t dare make a sound.
As Dongbin carried her away from the mess, Mei suddenly blinked and glanced over his shoulder toward the empty road.
"Wait, what about the bike?" she asked softly.
Dongbin chuckled and flashed an easy grin. "Relax, Boss. I’ll get it later."
He just kept walking, carrying her straight back into the barbershop.
Mei was already on the couch, sipping the warm tea Dongbin had handed her.
Dongbin sat down beside her, opening the bag of hot corn porridge and biscuits for their breakfast.
Mei looked up, her expression dead serious. "Bin, we need to pack our things and get out of here. Fast."
Dongbin paused, a biscuit halfway to his mouth. "Wait, Boss... you haven’t even sold the shop, have you?"
Mei shook her head, terror clear in her eyes. "Doesn’t matter anymore. We can just rent a small place somewhere else. Staying alive is more important than this shop."
Dongbin looked at her for a moment, then grinned softly. "Whatever you say, Boss. I’m in."
He opened the container of corn porridge, blew on a steaming spoonful, and held it out to her.
-***-
"What?!" Axel roared, slamming his glass onto the floor.
The glass shattered on impact, splashing red wine all over the carpet. "You losers got beaten by a damn motorcycle?!"
Dajun stepped forward, leaned down, and murmured a few words into his ear.
Axel’s eyes widened. "So the kid thinks he can declare war on us..."
He paced the room twice before whirling back toward Dajun. "Get Dante in here. Call both the Left and Right Commanders. Now!"
Axel dropped back onto his red leather couch, gripping the armrests so hard the leather groaned. "Get the men ready. I want that magician shredded."
"Yes, Boss!" the room echoed in unison.
Axel stared blankly ahead, his eyes raw with rage. "Let’s see how you handle my commanders and an entire army, you bastard."
Dongbin and Mei were still packing, shoving their things into cardboard boxes, when a massive shadow blocked the shop window.
Before they could even tape the last box shut, the street outside was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Hundreds of Flying Axe Gang thugs choked the entire road, led by two massive figures, the Left and Right Commanders.
"Magician! Get your ass out here!" a voice roared from the crowd.
Mei froze, all the color draining from her face. She slowly turned to Dongbin, her eyes wide with terror.
Dongbin just looked back at her, totally unbothered.